KEY FINDINGS OF THE RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS on renewables

2020 REN21 MEMBERS

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS INTER-GOVERNMENTAL NGOS Africa Minigrid Developers Association ORGANISATIONS Association Africaine pour (AMDA) Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre l'Electrification Rurale (Club-ER) Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) (APERC) CLASP American Council on Renewable Asian Development Bank (ADB) Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) Energy (ACORE) ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Climate Action Network International Associação Portuguesa de Energias Energy and Energy Efficiency (CAN-I) Renováveis (APREN) (ECREEE) Energy Cities Association for Renewable Energy of European Commission (EC) Lusophone Countries (ALER) Fundación Energías Renovables (FER) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Global 100% Renewable Energy International Energy Agency (IEA) Association (CREIA) Global Forum on Sustainable Clean Energy Council (CEC) International Renewable Energy Energy (GFSE) Agency (IRENA) European Renewable Energies Global Women's Network for the Federation (EREF) Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Energy Transition (GWNET) Euroheat & Power (EHP) Regional Center for Renewable Greenpeace International Energy and Energy Efficiency Global Off-Grid Lighting Association ICLEI – Local Governments for (RCREEE) (GOGLA) Sustainability United Nations Development Global Solar Council (GSC) Institute for Sustainable Energy Programme (UNDP) Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) Policies (ISEP) United Nations Environment Indian Renewable Energy Federation International Electrotechnical Programme (UNEP) (IREF) Commission (IEC) United Nations Industrial International Geothermal Association Jeunes Volontaires pour Development Organization (UNIDO) (IGA) l'Environnement (JVE) World Bank (WB) International Hydropower Association Mali Folkecenter (MFC) (IHA) Power for All Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa (RES4Africa) Foundation Renewable Energy and Energy World Bioenergy Association (WBA) Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) World Wind Energy Association Renewable Energy Institute (REI) (WWEA) SLOCAT Partnership for Sustainable Low Carbon Transport Solar Cookers International (SCI) SCIENCE AND ACADEMIA GOVERNMENTS World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE) AEE – Institute for Sustainable Afghanistan Technologies (AEE INTEC) Brazil World Future Council (WFC) Council on Energy, Environment and Denmark World Resources Institute (WRI) Water (CEEW) Dominican Republic World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Fundación Bariloche (FB) International Institute for Applied Germany Systems Analysis (IIASA) India International Solar Energy Society Mexico MEMBERS AT LARGE (ISES) Norway Michael Eckhart National Renewable Energy Laboratory Republic of Korea Mohamed El-Ashry (NREL) South Africa National Research University Higher David Hales School of Economics, Russia (HSE) Spain Kirsty Hamilton South African National Energy United Arab Emirates Peter Rae Development Institute (SANEDI) United States of America The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Arthouros Zervos Rana Adib National Technical University of REN21 Athens (NTUA)

2 RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY NETWORK FOR THE 21st CENTURY

REN21 is the only global community of renewable energy actors from science, academia, governments, NGOs and industry. We provide up-to- date facts, figures and peer-reviewed analysis of global developments in technology, policies and markets to decision makers. Our goal: encourage and enable them to make the shift to renewable energy happen – now!

The most successful organisms, such as an octopus, have a decentralised intelligence and "sensing" function. This increases responsiveness to a changing environment. REN21 incarnates this approach.

Our more than 2,000 community members guide our co-operative work. They reflect the vast array of backgrounds and perspectives in society. As REN21’s eyes and ears, they collect information and share intelligence, by sending input and feedback. REN21 takes all this information to better understand the current thinking around renewables and change norms. We also use this information to connect and grow the energy debate with non-energy players.

Our annual publication, the Renewables Global Status Report, is probably the world’s most comprehensive crowdsourced report on renewables. It is a truly collaborative process of co-authoring, data collection and peer reviewing.

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 01 GLOBAL OVERVIEW Renewables grew rapidly in the power sector, while far TFEC, only a slight increase from 9.6% in 2013. The highest fewer advances have occurred in heating and transport. share of renewable energy use (26.4%) was in electrical uses excluding heating, cooling and transport; however, these end- Renewable energy had another record-breaking year in 2019i, as uses accounted for only 17% of TFEC in 2017. Energy use for installed power capacity grew more than 200 gigawatts (GW) – transport represented some 32% of TFEC and had a low share its largest increase ever. Capacity installations and investment of renewables (3.3%), while the remaining thermal energy continued to spread to all corners of the world, and distributed uses accounted for more than half of TFEC, of which 10.1% renewable energy systems provided additional households in was supplied by renewables. Overall, the slow growth in the developing and emerging countries with access to electricity and renewable energy share indicated the complementary roles clean cooking services. Also during the year, the private sector of energy efficiency and renewables. signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for a record amount of renewable power capacity, driven mainly by ongoing cost Among the general public, support for renewable energy reductions in some technologies. continued to advance alongside rising awareness of the multiple benefits of renewables, including reduction of carbon dioxide Shares of renewables in electricity generation continued to rise (CO2) emissions. By year’s end 1,480 jurisdictions – spanning 28 around the world. In some countries, the share of renewables in countries and covering 820 million citizens – had issued “climate heating, cooling and transport also grew, although these sectors emergency” declarations. At the same time, while some countries continued to lag far behind due to insufficient policy support were phasing out coal, others continued to invest in new coal- and slow developments in new technologies. This resulted in fired power plants, both domestically and abroad. In addition, only a moderate increase in the overall share of renewables funding from private banks for fossil fuel projects has increased, in total final energy consumption (TFEC), despite significant totalling USD 2.7 trillion between 2016 and 2019. Although CO2 progress in the power sector. emissions remained stable in 2019, the world is not on track to As of 2018, modern renewable energy (excluding the limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (°C), let traditional use of biomass) accounted for an estimated 11% of alone 1.5 °C, as stipulated in the Paris Agreement.

i The Renewables 2020 Global Status Report focuses on developments in renewable energy in 2019, and therefore does not reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global energy systems. An overview of the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the renewable energy sector will be included in GSR 2021.

Estimated Global Growth in Renewable Energy Compared to Total Final Energy Consumption, 2013-2018

TFEC (Exajoules) Despite growing faster 400 than other energy sources, +7.2 % renewables made up 350 378 353 +5.7% 337 less than 300 319 one-third 250 of demand growth.

200

150

TFEC 100 Fossil fuels, nuclear, traditional biomass 50 + 21.5% Modern renewables 34 41 0 2013 2018 Source: Based on IEA data.

4 Renewable Share of Total Final Energy Consumption, by Final Energy Use, 2017

Heating and cooling 51% Transport 32% Power 17%

10.1% 3.3% 26.4% Renewable energy Renewable energy Renewable energy

Note: Data should not be compared with previous years because of Source: Based on IEA data. revisions due to improved or adjusted methodology.

Renewable Energy Policies and Fossil Fuel Subsidies 143 countries 70 with RE countries with power RE transport policies policies Fossil fuel subsidies 23 countries with RE 400 heating and billion USD cooling policies in 2018i

Countries with renewable energy regulatory policies

i not including externalities

5 BUILDINGS TRANSPORT Renewables were the fastest growing energy source in Despite gains in energy efficiency and continued growth in buildings, yet this increase was limited by lack of policy both biofuels and electric vehicles (EVs), transport remains support. the sector with the lowest share of renewable energy. Renewable energy met less than 14% of total energy demand Although it accounts for around one-third of TFEC, transport in buildings in 2017. More than three-quarters of global final remained the sector with the lowest share of renewable energy, at energy demand in buildings was for heating and cooling only 3.3%. The vast majority of global transport energy needs were end-uses, which remain heavily fossil fuel-based. In 2018, met by oil and petroleum products, with small shares met by biofuels renewables contributed an estimated 10.1% of heating and and renewable electricity. Gains in energy efficiency and continued cooling demand in buildings; this share has barely risen from growth in both biofuels and EVs were largely offset by rising 8% in 2010. Modern bioenergy still represented the largest energy demand in transport. Biofuels remained by far the largest renewable heat source in the buildings sector, followed by contributor of renewable energy to the transport sector in 2019. renewable electricity for heat, solar thermal and geothermal Although rarely linked directly to renewable sources, EVs became heat. Most of the share increase was due to growth in more commonplace in more countries as a result of policies renewable electricity for heat and in solar thermal, while use and targets adopted in prior years. With cities increasingly of modern bioenergy has remained stable. The majority of restricting the circulation of fossil fuel vehicles, new mobility renewable electricity in buildings was provided by utility-scale, service companies have expanded rapidly, with some committing grid-connected renewables with a growing share from rooftop to using renewable electricity in their EV fleets. Some regions solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. also saw gradual increases in the use of renewable hydrogen Direct policy action to stimulate renewable energy uptake and renewable synthetic fuels for transport, but these remained in buildings was lacking in 2019, although more local and minimal overall. Many countries still lack a holistic strategy for national governments introduced bans on fossil fuels for decarbonising transport. Although positive developments heating. Global efforts to decarbonise buildings through net occurred across transport modes, including in road freight, zero carbon / net zero energy buildings are promoting the shipping and aviation in 2019, progress has been too slow to uptake of renewable energy in the sector. achieve global climate targets.

INDUSTRY POWER The share of renewables in industrial energy use remains The renewable power sector experienced record-high small, particularly in sectors that require high process increases in installed capacity, outpacing net installations temperatures. in fossil fuel and nuclear power combined. Renewable energy met around 14.5% of industrial final Installed renewable power capacity grew more than 200 GW energy demand, with bioenergy supplying more than half of in 2019 (mostly solar PV), the largest increase ever. For the fifth the renewable share. Bioenergy was used primarily in sub- year in a row, net additions of renewable power generation sectors that utilise low-temperature heat (below 100 °C), such capacity clearly outpaced net installations of fossil fuel and as pulp and paper. Solar thermal and geothermal heat were nuclear power capacity combined. Globally, 32 countries had used mainly for pre-heating water, drying and generating at least 10 GW of renewable power capacity in 2019, up from low-temperature steam in industries such as mining, food only 19 countries a decade earlier. In most countries, producing and beverage production, textiles and agriculture. Within the electricity from wind and solar PV is now more cost effective industrial sector, the most energy-intensive sub-sectors – than generating it from new coal-fired power plants. These cost those with the highest process temperatures – also use the declines have led to record-low bids in tendering processes, lowest shares of renewable energy. which became even more common during the year. However, competitive auctions have led to consolidation in some industries Renewable electricity was used to supply both electrical and and have favoured larger multinational energy companies rather thermal demands of some industrial processes. New projects than smaller actors, including community-led groups. were completed or announced in 2019 to use renewable electricity to produce steel and cement and to power mining Overall, installed renewable energy capacity was enough to operations. In addition, projects were commissioned to provide an estimated 27.3% of global electricity generation by produce renewable hydrogen for industry, and companies the end of 2019. Despite these advances, renewable electricity announced plans and intentions to produce renewable continued to face challenges in achieving a larger share of global hydrogen from offshore wind power. electricity generation, due in part to persistent investment in fossil fuel (and nuclear) power capacity.

6 Renewable Share of Total Final Energy Consumption in Buildings, 2017

Buildings 3.8 % 86.4% Modern bio-heat Buildings Non-renewable account for energy and 13.6% traditional biomass Modern 8.3% 33% renewables Renewable of final energy electricity demand.

1.4% Solar and geothermal heat

Note: Modern bio-heat includes heat supplied by district energy networks. Source: Based on IEA data. Totals may not add up due to rounding.

Renewable Share of Total Final Energy Consumption in Industry and Agriculture, 2017

Industry 7.2% and % Modern 85.5 bio-heat Industry Agriculture Non-renewable accounts for energy 14.5% 7.1% Renewable 35% Renewable of final energy energy electricity demand.

0.1% Solar and geothermal heat

Note: Modern bio-heat includes heat supplied by district energy networks. Source: Based on IEA data. Totals may not add up due to rounding.

Renewable Share of Total Final Energy Consumption in Transport, 2017

Transport 96.7% Transport accounts for Non-renewable 3.0% energy Biofuels 32% 3.3% of final energy Renewable demand. energy 0.3% Renewable electricity

Source: Based on IEA data.

7 RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

RENEWABLE ENERGY INDICATORS 2019 2018 2019 INVESTMENT New investment (annual) in renewable power and fuels1 billion USD 296.0 301.7 POWER Renewable power capacity (including hydropower) GW 2,387 2,588 Renewable power capacity (not including hydropower) GW 1,252 1,437 Hydropower capacity2 GW 1,135 1,150 Wind power capacity GW 591 651 3 Solar PV capacity GW 512 627 Bio-power capacity GW 131 139 Geothermal power capacity GW 13.2 13.9 Concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) capacity GW 5.6 6.2 Ocean power capacity GW 0.5 0.5 HEAT 4 Modern bio-heat demand (estimated) EJ 13.9 14.1 5 Solar hot water demand (estimated) EJ 1.4 1.4 6 Geothermal direct-use heat demand (estimated) PJ 384 421 TRANSPORT Ethanol production (annual) billion litres 111 114 FAME biodiesel production (annual) billion litres 41 47 HVO biodiesel production (annual) billion litres 6.0 6.5 POLICIES7 Countries with renewable energy targets # 169 172 Countries with renewable energy policies # 158 161 Countries with 100% renewable energy in primary or final energy targets # 1 1 Countries with 100% renewable heating and cooling targets # 1 1 Countries with 100% renewable transport targets # 1 1 Countries with 100% renewable electricity targets # 57 61 Countries with heat regulatory policies # 23 23 Countries with biofuel blend mandates8 # 70 70 Countries with feed-in policies (existing) # 87 87 Countries with feed-in policies (cumulative)9 # 113 113 Countries with tendering (held during the year) # 48 41 Countries with tendering (cumulative)9 # 98 109

1 Data are from BloombergNEF and include investment in new capacity of all biomass, geothermal and wind power projects of more than 1 MW; all hydropower projects of between 1 and 50 MW; all solar power projects, with those less than 1 MW estimated separately; all ocean power projects; and all biofuel projects with an annual production capacity of 1 million litres or more. Total investment values include estimates for undisclosed deals as well as company investment (venture capital, corporate and government research and development, private equity and public market new equity). 2 The GSR strives to exclude pure pumped storage capacity from hydropower capacity data. 3 Solar PV data are provided in direct current (DC). See Methodological Notes for more information. 4 Includes bio-heat supplied by district energy networks and excludes the traditional use of biomass. See Reference Table R1 and related endnote for more information. 5 Includes glazed (flat-plate and vacuum tube) and unglazed collectors only. The number for 2019 is a preliminary estimate. 6 The estimate of annual growth in output is based on a survey report published in early 2020. The annual growth estimate for 2019 is based on the annualised growth rate in the five-year period since 2014. See endnote 64 in Geothermal section of Market and Industry chapter. 7 A country is counted a single time if it has at least one national or state/provincial target or policy. See Table 3 and Reference Tables R3-R12. 8 Biofuel policies include policies listed both under the biofuel obligation/mandate column in Table 3 and in Reference Table R10. 9 Data reflect all countries where the policy has been used at any time up through the year of focus at the national or state/provincial level. See Reference Tables R11 and R12. Note: All values are rounded to whole numbers except for numbers <15, biofuels and investment, which are rounded to one decimal point. Totals may not add up due to rounding. FAME = fatty acid methyl esters; HVO = hydrotreated vegetable oil.

8 TOP FIVE COUNTRIES 2019

ANNUAL INVESTMENT / NET CAPACITY ADDITIONS / PRODUCTION IN 2019 Technologies ordered based on total capacity additions in 2019. 1 2 3 4 5 Investment in renewable power and fuels capacity (not including China United States Japan India Chinese Taipei hydropower over 50 MW) Solar PV capacity China United States India Japan Vietnam Wind power capacity China United States United Kingdom India Spain Hydropower capacity Brazil China Lao PDR Bhutan Tajikistan

Geothermal power capacity Turkey Indonesia Kenya Costa Rica Japan Concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) capacity Israel China South Africa Kuwait France

Solar water heating capacity China Turkey India Brazil United States Ethanol production United States Brazil China India Canada Biodiesel production Indonesia United States Brazil Germany France

TOTAL CAPACITY OR GENERATION AS OF END-2019 Countries in bold indicate change from 2018. 1 2 3 4 5 POWER Renewable power capacity China United States Brazil India Germany (including hydropower) Renewable power capacity China United States Germany India Japan (not including hydropower) Renewable power capacity per Iceland Denmark Sweden Germany Australia capita (not including hydropower)1

Bio-power capacity China United States Brazil India Germany

Geothermal power capacity United States Indonesia Philippines Turkey New Zealand Hydropower capacity2 China Brazil Canada United States Russian Federation

Hydropower generation2 China Brazil Canada United States Russian Federation

Solar PV capacity China United States Japan Germany India

Concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) capacity Spain United States Morocco South Africa China

Wind power capacity China United States Germany India Spain HEAT Solar water heating collector capacity3 China United States Turkey Germany Brazil

Solar water heating collector capacity per capita Barbados Cyprus Israel Austria Greece

4 Geothermal heat output China Turkey Iceland Japan New Zealand

1 Per capita renewable power capacity (not including hydropower) ranking based on data gathered from various sources for more than 70 countries and on 2018 population data from the World Bank. 2 Country rankings for hydropower capacity and generation can differ because some countries rely on hydropower for baseload supply whereas others use it more to follow the electric load to match peaks in demand. 3 Solar water heating collector rankings for total capacity and per capita are for year-end 2018 and are based on capacity of water (glazed and unglazed) collectors only. Data are from International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Programme. Total capacity rankings are estimated to remain unchanged for year-end 2019. 4 Not including heat pumps. Data are from 2015. Note: Most rankings are based on absolute amounts of investment, power generation capacity or output, or biofuels production; if done on a basis of per capita, national GDP or other, the rankings would be different for many categories (as seen with per capita rankings for renewable power not including hydropower and solar water heating collector capacity).

9 RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

SHIFTING TO RENEWABLES IN ALL SECTORS

THE REMARKABLE RISE THE POWER SECTOR IS ONLY OF RENEWABLE POWER PART OF THE PICTURE Momentum of renewable power continues Momentum in renewable power hides a profound Renewable energy has cemented its position as the dominant lag in the heating, cooling and transport sectors source for power capacity worldwide, thanks in large part It would be short-sighted to celebrate advances in the to sustained policy support and cost reductions. In 2019, a power sector without acknowledging the alarmingly low record 200 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power capacity shares and slow uptake of renewables in the heating, cooling was added, more than three times the level of fossil fuel and and transport sectors. Electricity use, such as for lighting, nuclear capacity. Over 27% of global electricity now comes appliances and industrial equipment, accounts for only 17% from renewables, up from 19% in 2010. The share of solar of global final energy demand, whereas heating, cooling photovoltaic (PV) and wind power has grown more than five and transport account for as much as 83% of the energy we times since 2009 – a remarkable rise attributed largely to consume. Renewable shares in heating and cooling are low continued cost declines for these technologies. (10.1%) and struggle to increase, even as the sector accounts for more than half of total energy demand. Similarly, energy New solar PV and wind plants are now being installed at a demand in transport – which accounts for a third of total lower cost than to run existing coal and gas power plants. An energy demand – is growing the fastest by far, yet renewable increasing number of jurisdictions have shown that variable shares barely exceed 3.3%. sources of renewable electricity can be integrated into the grid at scale. Four countries – Denmark, Uruguay, Ireland and Ongoing dependence on fossil fuels for heating, cooling and Germany – derived more than 30% of their electricity from transport is related to a lack of policy support for renewables solar PV and wind in 2019. in these sectors. There is still no level playing field. Many countries continue to uphold fossil fuel subsidies, which in An increasingly global trend mobilising all actors 2018 increased 30% from the year before. Global fossil fuel Renewable power is growing in all corners of the world. By subsidies totalled USD 400 billion, more than double the the end of 2019, 47 countries across 6 continents, including amount that governments spent on renewable power. As coal several emerging economies, had at least 1 GW of solar PV plants continue to be built, public funding for these facilities and wind power in operation, compared to just 18 countries in is flowing to developing countries, increasing the risk for 2009. On average, 1 GW of solar PV or wind power is enough lock-in to fossil-fuelled power. The massive support for fossil to cover the electricity demand of nearly 150,000 European fuels hinders the already difficult task of reducing emissions households. and must be brought to a halt. A social revolution is under way: people around the world A systemic problem requires a systemic response are demanding more action on climate change, and 1,480 Increasing the shares of renewables in all sectors is jurisdictions in 28 countries have declared a “climate mandatory to enable the shift to a low-carbon energy system emergency”. Public opinion polls worldwide have shown that could fulfil global climate and development goals. that people are in favour of using more renewables and are Unfortunately, the world is still far from being on track to increasingly aware of the multiple benefits that renewable meet these goals. Because of the ever-growing demand for energy brings in terms of health, jobs, resilience and climate energy, the continued support for fossil fuels and the lack of change mitigation. adoption of renewables in all sectors, the progress made by Beyond individuals, private sector investments in renewable renewables is not fast enough to compete with rising energy power and fuels reached record levels in 2019. Corporate demand. Demand for renewable energy grew three times sourcing of renewables grew more than 40%, with agreements faster than demand for fossil fuels and nuclear over a five- signed in 23 countries, and some in the order of gigawatts. year period, but it accounted for less than a third of the total Membership in RE100 grew at least 27% during the year to increase in final energy demand. This means that the share of 229 global corporations. renewables is only barely increasing.

10 RENEWABLES NOW

SOLUTIONS EXIST FOR AN IMMEDIATE SHIFT TO EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Much work remains to be done. On the bright side, solutions exist to switch to an efficient and renewable-based energy system. Successful policies and targets can be used as models, and minimising policy uncertainty is crucial to create stable markets. Three types of solutions must occur in parallel to make transformation of the energy system happen.

For policy makers, three actions must be taken in parallel:

Increase policies that Make energy efficiency Accelerate the phase-out actively support the uptake mandatory to decrease out of fossil fuels: of renewables:­ energy demand:

Governments have many options for Energy efficiency measures that Governments can take an offensive promoting renewables, and ambitious decrease final energy demand position to phase out fossil fuels planning, targets and policies are are crucial to meet climate goals. and level the playing field that needed. Already, cities such as Vienna Measures such as building retrofits, undermines renewable energy, have implemented plans to boost net zero energy codes, fuel efficiency especially in heating and transport, shares of renewable heat. Feed-in standards, promoting walking, cycling while ensuring a just transition. tariffs and mandates for renewable and renewable-powered public They should divest from fossil fuels, heat also have been effective. Although transport, and new mobility services remove fossil fuel subsidies and the global electric vehicle (EV) stock can all work towards this goal. Cities implement fossil fuel bans across has grown significantly, policies have proven particularly capable all sectors. Already 5 countries should be put in place that incentivise of introducing and reinforcing such have plans to ban fossil fuel boilers EVs charged with renewable changes. for heating, and 14 countries have electricity, and biofuel policies should targets to ban fossil fuel vehicles. be strengthened. Finally, renewable In addition, governments should electricity generation has to ramp up; implement a price on carbon nothing is holding back governments emissions across all sectors that now from channelling much more reflects the true cost of fossil fuels. investment into renew­able power.

COVID-19 EXPOSED THAT SYSTEMIC CHANGE IS NEEDED

Because of the reduced energy demand during the Recovery offers a unique chance to shift to a low- pandemic, carbon dioxide emissions are expected to carbon economy. decrease between 4% and 7% for 2020. Even under these As governments build recovery packages, firm and unified extreme circumstances, such an emissions decline is not action must be taken on emissions reduction and clean air enough to meet global goals; a decrease in emissions of at goals. Beyond the recovery, governments also should create least 7% annually over the next decade would be necessary targets and policies to make possible the switch to an efficient to reach the goal of limiting global temperature rise to and renewable-based energy system. Urgent, focused and 2° Celsius. co-ordinated policy action is crucial. And action must be The pandemic’s impact on carbon emissions has proven taken now. that structural shifts to overhaul our existing fossil fuel-based energy system are necessary. Now, we have an opportunity to take ambitious action during a period of uncertainty.

11 POLICY LANDSCAPE In 2019, policy frameworks continued to evolve in response to changes in renewable energy technologies and markets. CROSS-SECTORAL TARGETS AND POLICIES Targets that align renewable energy policy across multiple Much of the progress in developing and deploying renewable levels of governance and multiple economic sectors energy technologies has been achieved thanks to effective remained rare in 2019. government policies. Policy continues to be important to overcome economic, technical and institutional barriers. By the Renewable energy policies typically are enacted at a single level end of 2019, nearly all countries had renewable energy support of governance and tend to focus on a single end-use sector, policies in place, although with varying degrees of ambition, although examples of integration and co-ordination are emerging. scope and comprehensiveness. Jurisdictions have adapted Targets are a primary means of expressing commitment to policies to meet their specific circumstances, including to support renewable energy and have been aimed almost exclusively at the increasing renewable energy capacity and generation, to boost power (electricity) sector. By the end of 2019, 166 countries had job creation, and to increase energy access and security. Trade policy renewable power targets, compared to 49 countries for heating also had an impact on the production, exchange and development and cooling and 46 for transport. Only one cross-sectoral target of renewable energy products, as well as on renewable energy was adopted during 2019, in Spain. demand levels within specific countries.

Number of Countries with Renewable Energy Policies, 2004-2019

Number of Countries 143 countries 150 Power regulatory policies

120 70 90 countries Transport regulatory policies 60 23 30 countries Heating and cooling regulatory policies 0 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2019

Note: Figure does not show all policy types in use. In many cases countries have enacted additional fiscal incentives or public finance mechanisms to support renewable energy. A country is considered to have a policy (and is counted a single time) when it has at least one national or state/provincial level policy in place. Power policies include feed-in tariffs (FITs) / feed-in premiums, tendering, net metering and renewable portfolio standards. Heating and cooling policies include solar heat obligations, technology-neutral renewable heat obligations and renewable heat FITs. Transport policies include biodiesel obligations/mandates, ethanol obligations/mandates and non-blend mandates.

12 HEATING AND COOLING Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom) adopted targets to fully or partially ban the use of fossil fuels in heating. Despite the enormous potential for renewable energy in heating and cooling, the number of related policies for buildings Renewable energy support policies for the industrial sector are increased only slightly, while such policies for industry remained more limited, and new or revised policies in this area remained scarce. scarce in 2019. Although not always specific to the industrial sector, some policy developments related to renewable hydrogen Policies supporting renewable heating and cooling in buildings took place in 2019, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, and grew minimally in 2019, and include renewable heating and cooling Europe, while policy focus on hydrogen elsewhere occurred mandates, building energy codes, support for renewable district without a direct link to renewables. heating and cooling, support for renewable natural gas, financial incentives, net zero emissions standards and fossil fuel bans for heating. No new countries adopted renewable heat mandates for the second year in a row, but at least four countries (Austria,

National Sector-Specific Targets for Share of Renewable Energy by a Specific Year, by Sector, in Place at End-2019

HEATING AND COOLING = one target TRANSPORT = one target Targets for share of heating and cooling from Targets for share of transport energy from renewable sources in % renewable sources in % 49 100 100 countries SOONER SOONER have national targets for renewable 80 80 energy in heating and cooling.

60 60

40 40

MORE AMBITIOUS MORE AMBITIOUS 46 countries 20 20 have national targets for 0 0 renewable energy 2020 2030 2040 2050 target year 2020 2030 2040 2050 target year in transport.

POWER Targets for share of electricity generation from renewable sources in % = one target

100

SOONER 80 166 60 countries have national targets for 40 renewable energy

MORE AMBITIOUS in power.

20

0 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 2055 2060 target year

Note: Each dot can represent more than one country and is based on the highest target that a country has set at the national level. Figure includes only countries with targets in these sectors that are for a specific share from renewable sources by a specific year, and does not include countries with other types of targets in these sectors. The total number of countries with any type of target for renewable energy (not specific to shares by a certain year) is 49 in heating and cooling, 46 in transport and 166 in power.

13 TRANSPORT POWER In the transport sector, no new countries adopted biofuel Countries continued to turn to competitive auctions and blend mandates, but some countries with existing tenders to support large-scale, centralised renewable power mandates strengthened their policies. Policy attention to projects; however, rising attention was paid to decentralised EVs expanded but still without a direct link to renewables. systems. In 2019, policies to promote renewable energy in the transport The power sector continued to receive the bulk of renewable energy sector continued to focus primarily on road transport, which policy attention in 2019, and targets remained the most popular accounts for the vast majority of energy use in transport. Rail, form of intervention. Many countries used competitive auctions aviation and shipping received less policy attention despite being and tenders in lieu of feed-in policies for large-scale, centralised large energy consumers. projects. At least 68 renewable energy auctions or tenders were held across at least 41 countries at the national or state/provincial As in previous years, biofuels were the primary focus of road level, down from 48 countries in 2018. However, the total number of transport policy frameworks. Although no new countries countries that have used this mechanism increased to 109 (up from introduced biofuel blending mandates for the second year 98 in 2018) as new countries held tenders for the first time. African running (with the total remaining at 70 countries), some countries countries were very active in 2019, although to a lesser degree than with existing mandates added new ones, and several existing in 2018. Feed-in policies were in place in 113 jurisdictions by the mandates were strengthened. The number of countries with end of 2019, with no change from 2018. targets for advanced biofuels reached 24, although nearly all The uptake of policies targeting small-scale, distributed renewable were targeting shares in the single digits. power generation accelerated during the year. These policies Policies aimed at the electrification of transport, while not include solar mandates, feed-in pricing, net metering (and virtual renewable energy policies in themselves, offer the potential for net metering) and public utility policy. Policies also were adopted to greater penetration of renewable electricity in the transport sector. encourage community energy arrangements, including measures In 2019, numerous jurisdictions implemented policies to support promoting community choice aggregation and shared ownership the increased uptake of electric road vehicles – including targets, of renewables, especially in Europe and the United States. financial incentives, public procurement and support for charging The private sector engaged in various forms of renewable power infrastructure. Targeted bans on fossil fuel vehicles were in place procurement, including through PPAs, renewable energy certificates, in at least 18 countries, up from 12 in 2018. Austria remained the utility-led procurement programmes and self-generation. only country that had a policy directly linking renewables with EVs, while only three cities had e-mobility targets that were directly linked to a renewable electricity target. The private sector also advanced renewable energy initiatives in SYSTEMS INTEGRATION OF VARIABLE the transport sector, particularly for aviation, shipping and rail. RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY A growing number of jurisdictions directed policies towards ensuring greater integration of variable Policies and targets for renewable electricity (VRE). The policy push for systems integration of renewables and renewables enabling technologies, such as energy storage, remained focused on increasing power system flexibility and control, as in power well as grid resilience. Policies to advance the integration of remain more ambitious VRE in 2019 were related mainly to market design, demand- and more numerous than side management, transmission and distribution system those for other sectors. enhancements, grid interconnections and support for energy storage. Much of the policy development occurred in Europe and at the state level in the United States.

14 RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CLIMATE policies – such as fossil fuel bans and phase-outs, greenhouse gas emissions targets, and carbon pricing and emissions trading CHANGE POLICY systems – stimulate the uptake of renewables indirectly. By the Climate change policies that directly or indirectly stimulate end of 2019, at least 56 carbon pricing initiatives in 47 countries interest in renewables increased in 2019, spreading to new had been implemented (up from 54 initiatives in 45 countries in regions and reaching new levels of ambition. 2018, with the addition of Singapore and South Africa). Fourteen In some jurisdictions, policies directly link climate change countries worldwide had a legally binding target for net zero mitigation with the increased deployment of renewables – such emissions (while two countries have already achieved this target), as Costa Rica’s economy-wide roadmap launched in 2019 to and the European Commission proposed a European Green Deal achieve net zero emissions by 2050. However, other climate to create the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050.

Carbon pricing initiatives Countries with Selected Climate Change Policies, Early 2020 covered only

around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2019.

Washington

California

Beijing New Hampshire Maine Tianjin Chongqing Vermont Hubei Connecticut Massachusetts Rhode Island Maryland New York Shanghai Virginia New Jersey Fujian Delaware Guangdong Shenzhen (except Shenzhen)

Both net zero emissions target Net zero emissions target and carbon pricing policy

Carbon pricing policy Sub-national carbon pricing policy

Note: Figure does not show all climate policies but only carbon pricing policy use and net zero emissions Source: Based on World Bank and targets. Carbon pricing policies include emissions trading systems and carbon taxes. Net zero emissions Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. targets shown are binding and include those that are in law or policy documents, as well as those that have already been achieved.

15 03 MARKET AND INDUSTRY TRENDS

BIOENERGY HYDROPOWER Modern bioenergy provided 5.1% of total global final energy The global hydropower market, as measured in annual demand in 2018, accounting for around half of all renewable capacity installations, contracted in 2019, continuing a energy in final energy consumption. multi-year trend of deceleration. The contribution of modern bioenergy to heat in industry New capacity totalled an estimated 15.6 GW, raising the global has grown about 2% in recent years, while its use for heating installed capacity to around 1,150 GW in 2019. Hydropower in buildings (mainly in Europe and North America) has fallen generation increased 2.3% during the year 2019 to an estimated slightly. Bioenergy provides around 9% of industrial heat demand 4,306 TWh, reflecting not only increased capacity but also and is concentrated in bio-based industries such as paper and significant localised variability from shifting weather patterns and board. Biofuels, mostly ethanol and biodiesel, provide around 3% other operational conditions. of transport energy, and global biofuels production increased 5% Brazil led in commissioning new hydropower capacity in 2019, in 2019. Ethanol production grew around 2%, despite a decline followed by four Asian countries: China, Lao PDR, Bhutan and in the United States, the major ethanol producer. Biodiesel Tajikistan. This marked the first year since at least 2004 that China production increased 13%, and Indonesia became the world’s did not maintain a wide-margin lead over all other countries for largest producer, overtaking the United States, where production new hydropower completions. declined some 7%. Pumped storage capacity grew minimally in 2019 (0.2%), with In the electricity sector, bioenergy’s contribution rose 9% in most of the increase being a single 300 megawatt (MW) facility 2019, to 501 terawatt-hours (TWh). China extended its lead as completed in China. Total installed capacity at year’s end was the largest country producer, and bio-electricity growth also was 158 GW. However, significant new capacity was being planned or strong in the EU, Japan and the Republic of Korea. under construction, in part to support growth in VRE from solar Notable trends in the bioenergy industry included the continuing PV and wind power. rise in wood pellet production, especially to serve growing markets The hydropower industry continued to face a wide, inter­ in Japan and the Republic of Korea, and increasing investment connected, and evolving web of challenges and opportunities in hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) production. Production of in a world of changing energy systems and priorities. Some are HVO/HEFA (hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids) increased specific to the technical workings and economic considerations 12% in 2019, and investments in numerous additional plants were of the industry itself (such as the need for modernisation announced. and climate resilience), while others pertain to hydropower’s relationship with other renewable energy sources (such as integration of VRE), as well as other environmental, social, climate and sustainability imperatives.

Global biofuels production increased 5% in 2019.

16 Estimated Shares of Bioenergy in Total Final Energy Consumption, Overall and by End-Use Sector, 2018

Traditional Modern Non- biomass bioenergy bioenergy 3.1 2.1 100% 9.7 28.0 88.0% Transport Electricity Non-biomass 1.0% 0.4% 75% 5.0 1.2% Heat, buildings 50%

6.9% Traditional 2.5% 25% biomass Heat, industry 5.1% Modern bioenergy 0%

Heat, Heat, Transport Electricity buildings industry

Note: Data should not be compared with previous years because of revisions due to improved or adjusted Source: Based on IEA. data or methodology. Buildings and industry categories include bioenergy supplied by district energy networks. Totals may not add up due to rounding.

Hydropower Capacity and Additions, Top 10 Countries for Capacity Added, 2019

Gigawatts

350 +3.9 +0.5 300 50

250 Added in 2019 40 2018 total 200 30 +0.2

150 +4.9 20 100

10 50 +1.9 +0.6 +0.3 +0.3 +0.7 +0.3

0 Brazil China Lao PDR Bhutan Tajikistan Russian Angola Uganda Ethiopia Turkey Federation

17 RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS (PV) CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL Following a year of stable demand, the solar PV market POWER (CSP) increased 12% in 2019 to a record 115 GW (direct current), for Global CSP capacity in operation grew exclusively in a total of 627 GW. emerging markets. The decade ended with strong demand in Europe, the United Global CSP capacity grew 11% in 2019 to 6.2 GW, with 600 MW States and emerging markets around the world, more than of capacity coming online. Although this was well below the making up for a substantial decline in China. Not including average annual increase (24%) of the past decade, CSP continued China, the global market grew around 44%. China continued to to spread to new markets, including France, Israel and Kuwait. dominate the world market as well as manufacturing, having a China and South Africa also brought new plants into service. significant influence on both. For the first time, as much tower capacity as parabolic trough In most countries, the need still exists for support schemes for capacity was completed during 2019. solar PV, as well as for adequate regulatory frameworks and At year’s end, an estimated 21 GWh of thermal energy storage policies governing grid connections. Even so, interest in purely (TES) was operating in conjunction with CSP plants across five competitive large-scale systems is growing quickly, with a number continents. Nearly all commercial CSP under construction – located of projects under construction. Corporate purchasing expanded in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America – will include TES. considerably in 2019, and self-consumption (increasingly with battery storage) was an important driver for new distributed The CSP industry has become more geographically diverse, systems in several countries, including Australia and Germany. both in the locations of commercial plants and in the origins of developers, investors and contractors. Levelised costs of energy The industry continued to face relentless competition that, from CSP continued to decline during 2018 and 2019, with CSP coupled with policy vagaries and uncertainty, prompted cut- increasingly being built alongside both solar PV and wind power throat bids at some auctions and resulted in thin margins for to lower costs and increase capacity value. R&D activities during some developers and manufacturers, contributing to ongoing the year focused on further improving CSP economics and on consolidation. At the same time, competition drove declining addressing environmental impacts. prices, opening new markets, while the pressure of lower prices and expectations of rising global demand encouraged expanded and more efficient manufacturing, the entry of new companies into the sector and ongoing pursuit of innovation. SOLAR THERMAL HEATING During the year, solar PV accounted for around 10.7% of total AND COOLING generation in Honduras and substantial shares also in Italy (8.6%), Solar thermal capacity reached 479 gigawatts-thermal in Greece (8.3%), Germany (8.2%), Chile (8.1%) and elsewhere. 2019, with China accounting for 69% of the total. By year’s end, enough capacity was in operation worldwide to For the first time, cumulative global capacity declined (1%) produce an estimated 2.8% of global electricity generation. compared with the previous year, because installations in China did not cover the country’s need for replacements. Additions in the other largest markets for solar heating and cooling remained stable, with noteworthy growth in Brazil, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, South Africa and Tunisia balancing declines in Australia, Austria, Germany, Israel, Italy, Poland and Switzerland. The year was bright for solar district heating in Denmark, China and Germany, with 24 systems (totalling 196 megawatts-thermal,

MWth) newly commissioned. Successful development also generated interest elsewhere in Europe. Record-high capacity additions of solar heat for industrial

processes (SHIP), totalling 251 MWth, also occurred during the year, led by Oman, China and Mexico. Parabolic trough collectors dominated new installations, and by year's end at least 817

SHIP systems (a cumulative total of more than 700 MWth) were supplying process heat to factories worldwide. To reduce project development times and costs, system suppliers created mutually beneficial partnerships with conventional energy technology providers and with third-party financers. The ongoing transition from small residential systems to large commercial and industrial plants resulted in consolidation among collector manufacturers, as large players gained market share through contracts for large fields or high numbers of systems.

18 Solar PV Capacity and Additions, Top 10 Countries for Capacity Added, 2019

Gigawatts

250

+30.1 200 100

80 +13.3 Added 150 +31.1 in 2019 +7.0 2018 total 60 +3.8 100 +9.9 40

50 20 +3.7 +4.8 +3.1 +4.8 +3.5

0 Rest China United India Japan Vietnam Spain Germany Australia Ukraine Republic of World States of Korea

Note: Data are provided in direct current (DC). New CSP capacity was added exclusively Solar Water Heating Collector Additions, Top 20 Countries for Capacity Added, 2019 in emerging markets. Gigawatts-thermal

25 -8%

20 1.5 Unglazed 0% collectors +2% 1.2 Glazed – evacuated 15 tube collectors

+6% Glazed – flat plate 0.9 collectors 10 -4% 0.6 -11% -5% +10 % 5 -15% +1% +170 0.3 -13% -15% +24% +2% +1% +20% 1.5 -8% +7% -30% 0

Italy China India Brazil Israel Spain Turkey MexicoGreece Poland AustriaCyprus Tunisia AustraliaGermany Denmark South Africa Switzerland United States State of Palestine Note: Additions represent gross capacity added. New additions in China were based on produced collector area, and included export volumes in the national statistics for 2019 and earlier years.

19 RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

GEOTHERMAL POWER AND HEAT OCEAN POWER Geothermal electricity generation in 2019 totalled around Ocean power represented the smallest portion of the 95 TWh, while direct useful thermal output reached around renewable energy market, and most deployments to date 117 TWh (421 petajoules). have been small-scale demonstration and pilot projects. An estimated 0.7 GW of new geothermal power generating Despite the slow developments in the sector, the ocean power capacity came online in 2019, bringing the global total to around industry began moving towards semi-permanent installations 13.9 GW. As in 2018, Turkey and Indonesia led for new installations, and arrays of devices. The resource potential of ocean energy followed closely by Kenya; together the three countries is enormous, but the development trajectory of ocean power represented three-quarters of new installations globally. Other technologies has been volatile, and these resources remain countries that added new geothermal power facilities (or added largely untapped. capacity at existing facilities) were Costa Rica, Japan, Mexico, the Following a turbulent 2018, the ocean power industry regrouped in United States and Germany. 2019 and continued its gradual advance towards commercialisation. Direct use of geothermal energy for thermal applications has Net additions in 2019 were around 3 MW, with an estimated grown nearly 8% on average in recent years, with the fastest 535 MW of operating capacity at year’s end. Significant investments growing segment being space heating (around 13% annual and deployments were planned for 2020 and beyond. growth). Among the most active markets are regions of Europe Ocean power development has been concentrated mainly in and China, the latter showing the fastest expansion. Just four Europe, where tidal stream devices generated 15 gigawatt-hours countries – China, Turkey, Iceland and Japan – represented (GWh) in 2019 (up 50% from 2018). However, ocean power was roughly 75% of all geothermal direct use in 2019. gaining momentum in Canada, the United States and China, As in many previous years, the global geothermal industry had which offer generous revenue support and ambitious research mixed results. Construction activity and anticipation of further and development (R&D) programmes. development remained intact in some key markets, but was largely predicated on government support. Elsewhere, the industry was inhibited by industry-specific challenges of high project costs and front-loaded project risks and by the corresponding lack of adequate funding and risk mitigation. WIND POWER Continued research into new technologies and innovative The global wind power market saw its second largest annual processes and techniques, often supported by government increase, with offshore wind accounting for a record 10% of programmes, helped fuel optimism for a path forward. new installations. The global wind power market expanded 19% in 2019 to 60 GW, the second largest annual increase, for a total of 650 GW (621 GW onshore and the rest offshore). The rapid growth was due largely to surges in China and the United States in advance of policy changes and to a significant increase in Europe, despite continued market contraction in Germany. New wind farms reached full operation in at least 55 countries, and by year’s end at least 102 countries had some level of commercial wind power capacity. While falling prices are opening new markets, the global transition to auctions and tenders has resulted in intense price competition. Poorly designed tenders, permitting delays and lack of available land and grid access are challenging wind developers in many countries and causing attrition among turbine manufacturers. The industry is working to meet new challenges with improved technologies and other advances to further reduce costs and better integrate wind energy into existing energy systems. Offshore wind power is playing an increasingly important role and accounted for a record 10% of 2019 installations. Interest in hybrid projects, combining wind power with solar and/or energy storage, is increasing to reduce energy prices while mitigating impacts of variability and expanding revenue opportunities. Wind energy accounted for an estimated 57% of Denmark’s electricity generation in 2019, with high shares also in Ireland (32%), Uruguay (29.5%), Portugal (26.4%) and several other countries. Capacity in operation worldwide at year's end was enough to provide an estimated 5.9% of global generation.

20 Geothermal Power Capacity and Additions, Top 10 Countries for Capacity Added and Rest of World, 2019

Megawatts

3,000 Added in 2019 +15 2,500 2018 total +182

2,000

+232 1,500

+ +27 58 1,000 +160 +54 500

0 United Indonesia Philippines Turkey New Mexico Kenya Italy Iceland Japan Rest of States Zealand World

Offshore wind power additions accounted for

10% of all newly installed capacity, up from 5% in 2015.

Wind Power Capacity and Additions, Top 10 Countries, 2019

Gigawatts

250 +26.8 Added in 2019

2018 total 200 80

+2.1 150 60 +10.2 +9.1 100 40 +2.4 80 +2.4 +2.3 50 20 +1.3 +1.6 +1.3 +0.9 0 China Rest of WorldUnited States United KingdomIndia Spain Germany Sweden France Mexico Argentina

Note: Additions are net of decommissioning.

21 RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

04 DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLES FOR ENERGY ACCESS (DREA)

DREA systems have become an effective, established Corporate-level investments in the DREA sector totalled around solution for providing energy access, and benefited some USD 468 million in 2019, down 8.5% from 2018. At the same 150 million people around the world in 2019. time, capital flows in mini-grid start-ups surged 126% to a record USD 113 million. Development finance institutions, international Worldwide, the number of people lacking access to electricity organisations, philanthropic foundations and non-state actors dropped to 860 million (11% of the global population) in 2018, provided significant support to the DREA sector in many and an estimated 2.65 billion people (35% of the global countries by addressing policy barriers, enhancing the population) were living without clean cooking facilities that year. enabling framework, and offering technical assistance and DREA systems are present in both urban and rural areas of the financing to governments and companies. developing world and provide a wide range of services, including for lighting, appliances, cooking, space heating and cooling, and productive uses. They represent a key solution for fulfilling modern energy needs and enabling the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people who still lack access to electricity or clean cooking solutions. Since 2010, more than 180 million off-grid solar systems have been sold, including 150 million pico solar products and 30 million solar home systems. The market for off-grid solar systems grew 13% in 2019 – the highest growth of the past five years – with sales totalling some 35 million units, up from 31 million units in 2018. In addition, renewable energy (mostly hydropower) supplied, either entirely or partially, around half of the 19,000 mini-grids installed worldwide by the end of 2019. Solar PV and solar hybrid mini-grids continued to gain momentum as more projects were developed across Africa and Asia. Biomass cook stoves, biogas and solar cookers, and electric stoves were being deployed and piloted in many developing countries. An estimated 125 million people worldwide used biogas for cooking in 2018, and by the end of 2019 more than 3.9 million solar cookers were estimated to have been distributed, providing clean cooking solutions to around 14 million people.

Access to Electricity and Clean Cooking by Region, 2010 and 2018

All Developing and Emerging Countries All Developing and Emerging Asian Countries 94% 86% 79%

43% 57% Clean cooking attracted 74% India 95%less than 1% of the USD 4.4 billion 56% 45% 68%investment required 34% annually to achieve 49%

Access to Electricity Access to Clean Cooking All Africauniversal access in 2010 2018 2010 2018 the sector.

Source: IEA. 26% 29% 43% 54% Sub-Saharan Africa 13% 22 17%

33% 45% Central and South America 97% 89% 94% 85% Installed Capacity of Solar PV Mini-Grids, Selected Regions and World, 2014 and 2018

MW 400 World total 354.7 350 355 Megawatts

300 273.3

250 2014 2018 200

150

100 59.7 50.2 50 38.2 17.4 9.6 2.2 0 Africa Asia Latin America World

Note: World total may not add up due to rounding. Source: IRENA.

Production of Biogas for Cooking in Selected Countries, 2014 and 2018

Million cubic metres 15,000 350

300 2014 2018

250 10,000

200

150

5,000 100

50

350 0 0 China India Vietnam Nepal Bangladesh Cuba Ethiopia Kenya

Source: IRENA.

23 RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

05 INVESTMENT FLOWS

Global investment in renewable energy capacity remained Dollar investment in new renewable power capacity (including all nearly flat in 2019, although more capacity was financed hydropower) again far exceeded investment in coal, natural gas due to continuous falling capital costs. and nuclear power capacity in 2019, accounting for 75% of the total committed to new power generating capacity. Investment Global new investment in renewable power and fuels (not in renewables continued to focus on wind and solar power, with including hydropower projects larger than 50 MW) totalled wind power outweighing solar PV for the first time since 2010. USD 301.7 billion in 2019, up 5% from 2018. Including investments Asset finance of utility-scale projects, such as wind farms and in hydropower projects larger than 50 MW, total new investment solar parks, secured USD 230.1 billion during 2019. Investment in renewable power and fuels was at least USD 316.7 billion. in small-scale solar PV installations (less than 1 MW) increased Global investment in renewable energy capacity has exceeded 43.5% to USD 52.1 billion worldwide. the USD 200 billion mark every year since 2010, reaching USD 282 billion in 2019.

Global Investment in Renewable Power and Fuels, by Country and Region, 2009-2019

United States Europe Billion USD Billion USD 60 59.0 Europe 150 50.3 50.3 48.6 48.6 47.1 46.9 46.9 47.1 47.1 44.4 50 44.4 131.7 131.7 40.7 40.7 38.4 38.4 36.1 36.1 34.6 40 34.6 120 112.2 30 112.2 23.0 20 91.1 90 91.1 10 76.5 76.5 71.5 71.5 68.7 0 68.7 61.1 61.1 60.8 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 United States 60.8 58.4 57.7 60 57.7 49.1 49.1

Americas (excl. United States & Brazil) Billion USD 30 15.2 15.2 12.5 12.5 13.2 15 13.2 12.8 12.0 12.0 11.5 11.5 10.4 10.4 10.7 10.7 9.8 9.8 China 10 0 6.5 6.5 5.0 5.0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 5 Americas (excl. United States & Brazil) 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 China Billion USD 148.4 Brazil Brazil 150 148.4 Billion USD Asia & Oceania (excl. China & India) 15 121.1 121.1 10.2 10.2 10 120 7.7 7.8 7.7 7.8 6.8 6.9 7.2 7.2 6.4 6.4 6.2 6.2 105.6 105.6 5.7 5.7 Asia & Oceania (excl. China & India) 3.9 3.9 3.8 5 3.8 Billion USD 95.9 Africa & Middle East 95.9 90.1 88.7 88.7 0 90 90 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 India 63.4 63.4 56.6 56.6 53.7 Africa & Middle East India 60 53.7 60 50.6 50.6 49.6 49.6 48.2 45.8 45.8 45.7 Billion USD Billion USD 45.7 42.4 42.4 16.5 41.6 41.6 40.7 40.7 15.4 36.7 36.7 13.7 13.7 12.5 15 15 12.5 12.4 12.4 11.6 11.6 30.4 30.4 11.2 11.6 11.6 10.7 10.7 9.9 9.9 30 23.5 23.5 30 8.4 8.4 8.0 8.0 7.7 10 10 7.7 7.2 7.2 7.4 7.4 6.7 6.7 7.1 7.1 18.5 18.5 5.0 5.0 13.9 13.9 4.3 4.3 4.0 4.0 3.1 5 3.1 5 1.5 1.5 0 0 0 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Note: Investment volume adjusts for re-invested equity. Total values include estimates for undisclosed deals.

24 Developing and emerging economies outweighed developed China again had the largest share (30%), followed by the United countries in renewable energy capacity investment for the States (20%), Europe fifth year running, reaching USD 152 billion. Although capacity (19%) and Asia-Oceania Investments in renewable investment declined in both China and India, outside these (16%; excluding China power and fuel capacity two countries it rose 17% in developing countries to a record and India). Smaller shares accounted for USD 282.2 USD 59.5 billion. In parallel, renewable energy capacity investments were seen in Africa and billion in 2019, in developed countries increased 2% to USD 130 billion. the Middle East (5%), Renewable energy investment varied by region, rising in the the Americas (excluding Americas, including the United States and Brazil, but falling in Brazil and the United up only 1% all other world regions including China, Europe, India, and the States, 4%), India (3%) from 2018. Middle East and Africa. Considering all financing of renewable and Brazil (2%). energy capacity (but excluding hydropower larger than 50 MW),

United States Europe Billion USD Billion USD 60 59.0 Europe 150 50.3 50.3 48.6 48.6 47.1 46.9 46.9 47.1

50 44.4 131.7 131.7 40.7 40.7 38.4 38.4 36.1 36.1 34.6 40 34.6 120 112.2 30 112.2 23.0 20 91.1 90 91.1 10 76.5 76.5 71.5 71.5 68.7 0 68.7 61.1 61.1 60.8 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 United States 60.8 58.4 57.7 60 57.7 49.1 49.1

Americas (excl. United States & Brazil) Billion USD 30 15.2 15.2 12.5 12.5 13.2 15 13.2 12.8 12.0 12.0 11.5 11.5 10.4 10.4 10.7 10.7 9.8 9.8 China 10 0 6.5 6.5 5.0 5.0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 5 Americas (excl. United States & Brazil) 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 China Billion USD 148.4 Brazil Brazil 150 148.4 Billion USD Asia & Oceania (excl. China & India) 15 121.1 121.1 10.2 10.2 10 120 7.7 7.8 7.8 6.8 6.9 7.2 7.2 6.4 6.4 6.2 6.2 105.6 105.6 5.7 5.7 Asia & Oceania (excl. China & India) 3.9 3.9 3.8 5 3.8 Billion USD 95.9 Africa & Middle East 95.9 90.1 88.7 88.7 0 90 90 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 India 63.4 63.4 56.6 56.6 53.7 Africa & Middle East India 60 53.7 60 50.6 50.6 49.6 49.6 48.2 45.8 45.8 45.7 Billion USD Billion USD 45.7 42.4 42.4 16.5 41.6 41.6 40.7 40.7 15.4 36.7 36.7 13.7 13.7 12.5 15 15 12.5 12.4 12.4 11.6 11.6 30.4 30.4 11.2 11.6 11.6 10.7 10.7 9.9 9.9 30 23.5 23.5 30 8.4 8.4 8.0 8.0 10 10 7.7 7.2 7.2 7.4 6.7 6.7 7.1 18.5 18.5 5.0 5.0 13.9 13.9 4.3 4.3 4.0 4.0 3.1 5 3.1 5 1.5 1.5 0 0 0 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Source: BloombergNEF.

25 RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

06 ENERGY SYSTEMS 07 ENERGY EFFICIENCY INTEGRATION AND AND RENEWABLES Global energy intensity has continued to fall in recent ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES years, and an integrated approach for advancing both Countries integrated more solar PV and wind power than renewables and energy efficiency remains crucial. ever through a range of measures, supported by expanding International efforts to meet energy demand in a safe and reliable markets for heat pumps, EVs and energy storage. manner generally acknowledge the complementary nature of Growth in renewable energy is transforming energy systems renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency measures. around the world. In the power sector in particular, rapid growth Both renewables and efficiency can contribute significant in the installed capacity and penetration of variable renewable benefits including lower energy costs on a national, corporate or electricity sources – such as solar PV and wind power – has household level, increased grid reliability, reduced environmental occurred in many countries. In 2019, VRE produced an estimated and climate impacts, improved air quality and public health, and 8.7% of global electricity, while all renewables met 27.3% of increased jobs and economic growth. Coalitions of governments, global generation. corporations, institutions and non-governmental organisations Improving power system flexibility is central to advancing the have boosted global energy efficiency efforts, recognising the integration of VRE. Power system flexibility is being enhanced potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. through: strategic market design that rewards or promotes Global primary energy intensity – the amount of energy used flexibility; direct procurement of flexibility services from sources per unit of GDP – fell more than 10% between 2013 and 2018, of generation, demand and energy storage; improved forecasting although the annual improvement slowed over the period. The of electricity demand and of VRE generation and demand; and decline in energy intensity has been facilitated in part by the the improvement of grid infrastructure to support VRE uptake. uptake of renewables, as the use of some sources of renewable power – particularly hydropower, solar PV and wind power Several technologies are supporting the integration of renewables technologies – lessens the amount of primary energy needed to by enabling greater flexibility in energy systems or by promoting meet final energy needs by reducing the overall transformation the linking of energy supply and demand across electricity, losses in generation. Meanwhile, improvements in final energy thermal and transport applications. These include mature or intensity reduce overall energy demand, and can enable the commercialised technologies such as heat pumps, EVs and same renew­able energy sources to supply a larger share of the certain types of energy storage, and emerging energy storage world’s final energy needs. technologies including renewable hydrogen. In member countries of the Organisation for Economic The heat pump market has grown rapidly in recent years, driven Co-operation and Development (OECD), final energy intensity largely by rising demand for cooling in emerging economies and improved 14% between 2007 and 2017; during this same period, by strong sales of reversible air conditioning units used for both consumption of renewable energy increased around 42%, while cooling and heating. Notable activity in 2019 included investments the share of modern renewables in TFEC rose 44%. In non- by large technology companies in specialised heat pump firms, OECD countries, the improvement in final energy intensity was a focus on incremental cost and efficiency improvements, and even greater during the decade (25%), but these countries also the integration of heat pumps alongside renewables and energy saw large increases in energy demand driven by rapid economic storage using digital technologies. growth and improved energy access. As a result, while the The global stock of electric cars (passenger EVs) grew more than absolute amount of renewable energy in TFEC grew at a higher 40% in 2019, up more than 2 million from 2018. However, growth rate in non-OECD countries than in OECD countries (68%), the was lower than in 2018, when the global stock jumped 63% from share of renewables in TFEC in these countries increased to a the previous year. The global stock of two- and three-wheeled EVs lesser extent (29%). reached some 251 million in 2019, while sales of electric buses In buildings, total energy demand continued to increase steadily declined for the fourth consecutive year. The EV industry in 2019 despite energy efficiency improvements, due primarily to was characterised by diverse commitments and investments from increasing population and both dedicated EV manufacturers and traditional automakers. VRE incomes. Energy demand was increasingly available on EV charging networks. for transport also surged Renewables and energy The global market for energy storage of all types reached 183 GW during 2000-2018 and has efficiency maximise their in 2019. Around 0.3 GW of pumped (hydropower) storage was far exceeded the effect of added in 2019, while the leading markets for battery storage had greater vehicle efficiency. emissions mixed results. Renewables-plus-storage has emerged as a major Energy demand in driver of battery market growth. The energy storage industry industry has grown only mitigation saw significant cost improvements, increased manufacturing slightly in recent years, potential capacity, large investments and ongoing R&D during 2019, mitigated by structural when pursued together. with many of these activities focused on short-duration storage changes as well as by applications and battery technologies. greater energy efficiency.

26 08 FEATURE: PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR RENEWABLES Public support for renewables has expanded in general, At the local level, movements for energy sufficiency and conser­ although some individual projects have faced opposition. vation have spread around the world, and the numbers of Governments are using a diverse range of levers to increase both community renewable energy projects and prosumers support for renewables. continue to increase. At the same time, host communities may oppose certain forms of infrastructure development including The views of local communities are a key factor in the uptake of renewables because of the perceived impacts on the character renewables but are only one part of the broader social acceptance of a neighbourhood or landscape. of renewables. A number of complex factors can influence the public’s reactions towards local or regional renewable energy Governments have sought to build public support through a projects, including perceptions of health and environmental wide range of measures, including public awareness campaigns, impacts; perceptions of the distribution of economic costs and such as Mauritius’ campaign to increase the presence of women benefits; and the perceived fairness of the consenting process. in the renewable energy sector. Other popular measures include improving public participation in the development and Opinion polls have consistently indicated strong public support for procurement of renewable energy, which often is encouraged the expansion of renewables, due in part to the multiple benefits through the development of feed-in tariff schemes, peer-to-peer that these technologies provide. However, some individual models and prosumer community groups. renewable energy projects have faced opposition from local host communities. This creates an apparent “social gap” between Many governments have looked to share the economic benefits of strong overall support for renewables at the societal level and renewables with host communities by establishing Just Transition disapproval with specific proposed projects at the local level. Funds and by developing more “passive” forms of financial participation, such as community benefits packages and option- At a societal level, climate protests and litigation often are aligned to-purchase share schemes. Some governments also have started with implicit support for renewable energy – such as the strikes to engage with the concept of energy democracy by requiring and protests during 2019 involving millions of people across greater public participation in the project planning process for 150 countries demanding political action on climate change. renewables. For example, developers of solar and hydropower On the other hand, perceptions of unfairness or a lack of plants in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan were required to consult with transparency can lead the public to oppose policies intended to communities as part of their Stakeholder Engagement Plans. support an energy transition, such as in France, where protests emerged in late 2018 against government energy policies that disproportionately impacted lower-income households.

Dimensions of Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy

Socio-political Acceptance Market Acceptance Acceptance of renewable Acceptance of energy as a viable energy Social renewable energy source and supported in Acceptance technology by government policy and of Renewable investors, financial by the general public institutions and Energy consumers of energy

Community Acceptance Acceptance of specific renewable energy project developments by host communities

27 Heating and cooling 51% Transport 32% Power 17%

10.1% 3.3% 26.4% Renewable Renewable Renewable energy energy energy

Heating and cooling Transport Power

51% 32% 17% 10.1% 3.3% 26.4% Renewable energy Renewable energy Renewable energy

Heating and cooling Transport Power RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

51% 32% 17% 10.1% 3.3% 26.4% HEATING & COOLINGRenewable energy IN NUMBERSRenewable energy Renewable energy Renewable Share of Total Final Energy Consumption, 2017 No new Heating and cooling Transport Power countries have adopted renewable energy financial support policies for heating and 51% 32% 17% cooling since 2017. 10.1% 3.3% 26.4% Renewable energy Renewable energy Renewable energy

Countries with Policies for Renewable Heating and Cooling, 2009-2019

Number of countries

70 Total countries with policies for renewable 60 heating and cooling

50 Countries with both regulatory and financial policies 40 Countries with only financial policies

30 Countries with only regulatory policies

20

10

0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Note: Regulatory policies include solar heat obligations, technology-neutral renewable heat obligations, renewable heat FITs, and fossil fuel bans for heating and cooling at the national or state/provincial level. Financial policies include investment subsidies, grants, rebates, tax credits, tax deductions and exemptions, and loans.

Estimated Renewable Share of Heating and Cooling in Buildings, 2018

53.9% Fossil fuels

5.0 % 3.0% Modern Renewable bioenergy electricity 28.0% 8.0% for heat Non-renewable Traditional biomass electricity for heat

1.5% Solar thermal heat 10.1% Modern renewables Geothermal heat 0.6% Source: Based on IEA data.

Note: Includes space heating, space cooling, water heating and cooking. Modern bioenergy includes heat supplied by district energy networks.

28 Geothermal direct use grew 9% in 2019, most rapidly in space heating.

Global Bioenergy Use for Heating, by End-Use, 2010-2018 Change 2010-2018

Exajoules +0.2% 40 District heating

+1.1% Industry

30 Buildings, modern bioenergy 0.0% Buildings, traditional biomass

20

-1.2%

10

0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Source: Based on IEA.

Solar Water Heating Collectors Global Capacity, 2009-2019

Gigawatts-thermal 500 472 482 479 479 World 456 Gigawatts- Total 435 thermal 409 400 374

330 Glazed 300 285 collectors 242 Unglazed collectors 203 200

100

0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Note: Data are for glazed and unglazed solar water collectors and do not include concentrating, air or hybrid collectors. Source: IEA SHC. New additions in China were based on produced collector area, and included export volumes in the national statistics for 2019 and earlier years.

29 Heating and cooling 51% Transport 32% Power 17%

10.1% 3.3% 26.4% Renewable Renewable Renewable energy energy energy

Heating and cooling Transport Power

RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

51% 32% 17% 10.1% 3.3% 26.4% Renewable energy Renewable energy Renewable energy TRANSPORT IN NUMBERS Renewable Share of Total Final Energy Consumption, 2017 Biofuel blending Heating and cooling Transport Power mandates remain the most widely adopted renewable energy support policy in the 51% 32% 17% transport sector. 10.1% 3.3% 26.4% Renewable energy Renewable energy Renewable energy

Avoid-Shift-Improve Framework in the Transport Sector

Heating andAVOID cooling TransportSHIFTPower IMPROVE Avoid or reduce the need Shift to more e icient, Improve e iciency, for motorised travel less carbon-intensive modes vehicle technology and fuels

■ ■ Public transport, intercity and ■ Transport demand51% 32% 17% Fuel economy management high-speed rail, and new ■ Renewable fuels 10.1%■ Mixed-use, transit-oriented3.3 % mobility services26.4 (powered% (e.g., sustainable biofuels, Renewable enedevelopmentrgy Renewable enerbygy renewableRenewable energy) energy renewable electro-fuels) ■ ■ Active transport Zero emission logistics ■ Renewable-based (e.g., walking, cycling) and last-mile delivery electric vehicles ■ Telecommuting

Note: Transport demand management refers to encouraging travelers to avoid trips or shift to more resource-efficient options to limit vehicle traffic. Mixed- use development refers to having more than one use or purpose within a building or development area, ranging from housing on upper floors of a building and office or commercial space on the ground floor, to comprehensive developments with multiple buildings having separate but compatible uses. Transit- oriented development refers to mixed urban development around or near a transit station to reduce the need for motorised trips.

Global Production of Ethanol, Biodiesel and HVO/HEFA Fuel, by Energy Content, 2009-2019

Energy content (exajoules) World 4 4.0 Exajoules Total

3

HVO/HEFA

2 Biodiesel (FAME) Ethanol

1

0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Note: HVO = hydrotreated vegetable oil; HEFA = hydrotreated esters and fatty acids; FAME = fatty acid methyl esters

30 Targets for Renewable Power and Electric Vehicles, as of End-2019

National targeted renewable power share

91-100%

81-90%

71-80%

61-70%

51-60%

41-50%

31-40%

21-30%

11-20% Balearic Islands 1-10% British Columbia Hainan Province

California Sub-national renewable power target

100% electric vehicle target or targeted ban on internal combustion engine vehicles

Note: Renewable power targets include only targets for a specific share of electricity generation by a future year. Where a jurisdiction has multiple targets, the highest target is shown. Electric vehicle targets vary.

Electric Car Global Stock, Top Countries and Rest of World, 2015-2019

Million cars 8

Rest of World Around United Kingdom 7.2 million 6 Japan electric cars were on the world's roads Norway in 2019. United States 4 China

2

0 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Note: Includes battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Shows countries among the Source: IEA. top 5 according to the best available data at the time of publication.

31 Heating and cooling 51% Transport 32% Power 17%

RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT 10.1% 3.3% 26.4% Renewable Renewable Renewable energy energy energy

POWER IN NUMBERS

Renewable Share of Total Final Energy Consumption, 2017 Use of electricity (other than for heating, cooling or Heating and cooling Transport Power transport) accounts for the lowest share of final energy demand. 51% 32% 17% 10.1% 3.3% 26.4% Renewable energy Renewable energy Renewable energy

Cumulative Number of Countries with Feed-in and/or Tendering Policies, 2009-2019 Number of countries 120 Heating and cooling Transport Power

100 The rise of competitive auctions 80 51% 32% 17% and tenders continued 10.1% 3.3% 26.4% in 2019. 60 Renewable energy Renewable energy Renewable energy

40

20 Heating and cooling Transport Power

0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Feed-in tari / premium51% payment Tendering32% 17%

Note: A country is considered to have a policy (and is counted a single time) when it has at least one national or 10.state/provincial-level1% policy. Some countries have3.3 used% both policies. 26.4% Renewable energy Renewable energy Renewable energy

Estimated Renewable Energy Share of Global Electricity Production, End-2019

72.7% Non-renewable electricity Renewable electricity

5.9% Wind power 15.9% 27.3% Hydropower Renewable electricity 2.8% Solar PV

2.2% Bio-power

Geothermal, CSP 0.4% and ocean power Note: Data should not be compared with previous versions of this figure due to revisions in data and methodology.

32 Annual Additions of Renewable Power Capacity, by Technology and Total, 2013-2019

More than Additions by technology (Gigawatts) 120 200 gigawatts added in 2019

100

Solar PV 80 Wind power Hydropower

60 Bio-power, geothermal, ocean power, CSP 40

20

0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Note: Solar PV capacity data are provided in direct current (DC). Data are not comparable against technology contributions to electricity generation. Solar PV mini-grids are increasingly the preferred technology for providing electricity access across Africa Share of Electricity Generation from Variable Renewable Energy, Top Countries, 2019 and Asia.

Share of total generation (%) 60 Solar PV

50 Wind power

40

30

20

10

0 United Denmark Uruguay Ireland Germany Portugal Spain Greece Honduras Nicaragua Kingdom

Note: Figure shows countries among the top 10 according to the best available data at the time of publication. However, several small-island countries with low total generation may be excluded from this list.

33 RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

Renewable Energy in Cities

Cities play an important role in the effort to address climate, Renewable energy deployment in cities is often part of energy and sustainable development issues. They account wider urban strategies to develop infrastructure, while at for around two-thirds of global final energy use and some the same time achieving local objectives such as reducing

three-quarters of global CO2 emissions. At the same time, air pollution to improve public health, mitigating climate local governments have a direct impact on the daily lives of change, creating jobs, supporting the local economy and their citizens, such as through urban planning decisions or building resilient infrastructure. providing urban services, including public housing, waste REN21’s Renewables in Cities Global Status Report series and wastewater management, and public transport. They is establishing continuous and reliable data on urban are well positioned not only to grow the use of renewable renewable energy developments in order to create a clearer energy in municipal operations, but also to encourage and and more comprehensive picture of renewables in cities support the deployment and use of renewables in cities around the world. (p See https://www.ren21.net/cities.) more broadly. Thus, cities can play a major role in advancing the transition towards renewable energy in the heating and cooling and transport sectors, to accelerate deployment in the power sector, and to foster the integrated approaches needed to decarbonise energy use in all sectors. RENEWABLES IN CITIES Globally, thousands of cities have adopted renewable 2019 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT energy-specific targets and action plans, and by mid-2019 more than 250 cities worldwide had targets for 100% renewable energy, not only for the power sector, but also covering heating and cooling, and transport. To achieve these targets, many cities have adopted renewable energy (and energy efficiency) measures for buildings, for example through financial and fiscal incentives for the installation of solar PV or geothermal systems. Cities also can link the development of renewables with other urban services, such as by using waste and wastewater to produce biogas and biomethane, simultaneously improving waste management and supporting the local production and use of renewables. As the electrification of transport gains momentum, some cities are facilitating the integration of EVs and renewable power supply, installing EV charging 2019 stations or public transport infrastructure that relies on renewable electricity.

34 The REN21 Secretariat has produced this document to highlight important trends in renewable energy that occurred in 2019 and to put them in perspective of the global energy transition. It draws on elements from REN21’s Renewables 2020 Global Status Report. Authoring support: Thomas André, Duncan Gibb, Hannah E. Murdock, Anna Swenson (REN21)

GSR 2020 PRODUCTION AND AUTHORING TEAM REN21 RESEARCH DIRECTION TEAM RESEARCH AND PROJECT SUPPORT Hannah E. Murdock (REN21 SECRETARIAT) Duncan Gibb Fiona Corcoran, Hend Yaqoob, Dalia Assoum, Thomas André Stephanie Gicquel, Vibhushree Hamirwasia, Lea Ranalder, Katharina Satzinger SPECIAL ADVISORS Janet L. Sawin (Sunna Research) COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT Adam Brown (REN21 SECRETARIAT) Laura E. Williamson, Katherine Findlay, CHAPTER AUTHORS Anna Swenson, Florencia Urbani Thomas André (REN21) Sabine Froning, Niels Reise (Communication Works) Fabiani Appavou Adam Brown EDITING, DESIGN AND LAYOUT Geraint Ellis (Queen’s University Belfast) Lisa Mastny, Editor Bärbel Epp (Solrico) weeks.de Werbeagentur GmbH, Design Duncan Gibb (REN21) Flávia Guerra PRODUCTION Fanny Joubert (EcoTraders) REN21 Secretariat, Paris, France Ron Kamara (EcoTraders) Bozhil Kondev Rachele Levin Hannah E. Murdock (REN21) Janet L. Sawin (Sunna Research) Kristin Seyboth (KMS Research and Consulting LLC) Jonathan Skeen (The SOLA Group) Freyr Sverrisson (Sunna Research) Glen Wright (Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations)

DISCLAIMER: REN21 releases issue papers and reports to emphasise the importance of renewable energy and to generate discussion on issues central to the promotion of renewable energy. While REN21 papers and reports have benefited from the considerations and input from the REN21 community, they do not necessarily represent a consensus among network participants on any given point. Although the information given in this report is the best available to the authors at the time, REN21 and its participants cannot be held liable for its accuracy and correctness. REN21 is committed to mobilising global action to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Photo Credits Goals. page 5: © V_Sot_Visual_Content page 20: © Daniel Turbasa page 5: © zhao jiankang page 21: © Shaggyphoto page 5: © Milos Muller page 22: © Lumos page 5: © CHUYKO SERGEY page 23: © Angaza (for DIVatUSAID) page 12: © Andrew Mayovskyy page 23: Russell Watkins (Tanzania) page 12: © Yuri Redjebov for DFID (UK Department for page 14: © C. Na Songkhla page 16: © tchara International Development) page 16: © lafoto page 29: © Solarlite page 17: © Chokniti Khongchum page 29: © Linuo Paradigma page 17: © ZoranOrcik page 33: © only_kim page 18: © B.Zhou page 34: © Julius Nieves

35 KEY FINDINGS 2020

RENEWABLES 2020 GLOBAL STATUS REPORT

For further details and access to the report and references, visit www.ren21.net/GSR

See Endnotes and Methodological Notes in the full GSR for further details on the information presented in this document.

REN21 Secretariat c/o UN Environment Programme 1 rue Miollis Building VII 75015 Paris France www.ren21.net 2020